Device for molding and coating pipes and like articles



y 1949' J. 1.. A. CONTENSON 2,470,068

DEVICE FOR MOLDING AND COATING PIPES AND LIKE ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 24,, 1946 o o o o o\u a IGEIIIIIII. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII y 1949- J. A. CONTENSON 2,

DEVICE FOR- MOLDING AND COATING PIPES AND LIKE ARTICLES Fi led Dec. 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f \NVENTOR Jean Louls A\be \+Conrenson 9d,, Pn-Ty.

Patented May 10, 1949 DEVICE FOR MOLDING AND COATING PIPES AND LIKE ARTICLES .iean Louis Albert Contenson, Rueil-Malmaison,

France, assignor to Societes Reunies Everite- Sitube, Paris, France, a French company Application December 24, 1946, Serial No. 718,247 In France December 26, 1945 8 Claims.

The present invention has for its object a device which is intended to place in position a cylindrical layer of concrete or like material forming or coating a pipe or like article.

Said device enables a coating to be effected which is of continuous cross-section and has any desired directrix, and is intended in particular to protect transverse helical reinforcements arranged with or without tensioning round a primary pipe made of concrete or of any other material or round a supporting mandril performing the function of an internal frame.

The device according to the invention comprises, in combination, a support which is adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis and is intended to receive said material on its outer surface, and a chute which is supplied with said material and has at its base a strickle, the end of which is parallel to the generatrices of the support and is spaced from the outer surface of said support a distance corresponding to the desired thickness of the layer of material, so that said layer is placed in position on said support simply by strickling.

Other features will become apparent from the ensuing description.

In the accompanying drawing, which is given solely by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a front View of one of the ends of the support formed by a pipe to be coated, and of the apron intended to support the coating as it is formed.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the whole device through a plane at right angles to the axis to be coated or cast, 1. e. along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 of another device according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section along the line i -4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a fin, on a larger scale, and of its fixing on the vibrating rod (or tube).

Fig. 6 is a corresponding side View.

Fig. 7 is a view of the lower part of the hopper a little before the end of the coating of a pipe.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan View of an arrangement with a plurality of hoppers provided with vibrators.

Fig. 9 is a partial view of another modification.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pipe I to be coated, made of concrete or any other material, is provided externally with a reinforcing binding 2 formed by steel wires wound tightly round the pipe I.

lid

Said pipe is fitted (Fig. 1) on to two heads 3, at least one of which is driven and at least one of which is longitudinally displaceable along the common axis of rotation XX of the two heads. Each plate has a centering journal surface 4 of slightly smaller diameter than the internal di-' ameter of the pipe i and a shoulder 5, the external diameter of which is equal to the desired diameter of the coating of the pipe I. On the outside of the head 3 is provided a toothed crown 6, the eX-i ternal diameter of which is equal to that of the boss 5.

The machine comprises on the other hand (Fig. 2) an inclined chute l, the upper part in of which is located under a vane distributor 8 arranged at the lower part of a concrete silo 8.

The lower part of the chute is curved at 1b in the shape of a strickle and in such a manner that its tangential plane my is parallel to the plane :c'y' which is tangential to the outer surface It! of the pipe along the generatrix facing said pipe, the distance a between the strickle lb and said outer surface being exactly equal tothe desired thickness of the coating of the pipe, I'.

On the lower surface of the chute I which eX-i tends over the entire length of the pipe I to be coated, are arranged vibrators Ha. and Nb; other vibrators I2 are suspended by cables I3 and carry pins I4 which fall into the spout formed by the outer surface Ill of the pipe and the strickle lb extended by the chute I.

The device furthermore comprises a set 0 cylinders I5, l6, l1, I8, is and 20, the axes of which are parallel to the axis XX of the pipe."

The cylinders I5, I 6, I l are keyed on the shafts 2| (Fig. 1) supported by fixed bearings Zia. Each shaft 2| furthermore carries a toothed pinion 22 located in the plane of the toothed crown 6."

An endless chain 23 surrounding the lower part of said crown 6 successively passes over the pinions 22 secured to the cylinders l6, I'I, I8 and I5 which are thus rotatable in unison.

The machine further comprises a continuous apron 24 made of rubber, water-proofed fabric, thin sheet metal or other material, the width of which is slightly greater'than the length of the the contrary, it may comprise several sections placed side by side or end to end and suitably.

joined together in a water-tight manner.

The shaft 25 of the cylinder 20 carries a jaw 26, at the lower part of which is fixed a tensioning counterweight 21.

The device is completed by means for enabling the apron to be heated. Tubes 28 placed at the outer part of the section a, b, c, d, of the apron are connected to a supply of low pressure steam or other hot fluid and are provided with lateral openings through which escape jets 29 which strike the outer surface of said apron.

This device operates as follows:

The machine being at a standstill, the counterweight 2! is first lifted so as to loosen the apron 24 and, the pipe 1 having been placed in position between the heads 3, staves 30 are slid between the outer surface of said pipe and the section a, b, c, d, of the apron. The last of said staves, 3|, which is then at a is cut to a taper as at 32 so as to form an acute dihedron with the outer surface IU of the pipe I.

The counterweight 21 is then released, which has the efiect of tensioning the apron 24. The hopper 9 is then filled with concrete 33 and the distributor 8 is started and rotates in the direction of the arrow f The concrete flows at 34 along the chute I and the vibrators I la and l lb are then started, which have the effect of completely removing the air from the concrete 34 and of causing it to flow in the direction of the arrow f towards the pipe to be coated.

The concrete accumulates at 35 between the outer surface In of the pipe and the curved lower portion lb forming a strickle. The vibrators l2 are then set in motion and their pins l4 sink into the concrete, thereby facilitating the positioning of same.

The head 3 is then set slowly in rotation and drives the pipe I. The crown 6 also joins in this rotary movement and drives the chain 22 which rotates the cylinders l5, I6, I! and H3. The apron is thus set in motion and, owing to the equality of the outer diameter, on the one hand of the toothed crown 6 and the shoulder 5, on the other hand of the pinions 22 and the cylinders l5, l6, l1 and [8, the peripheral speed of the apron is the same as that of the desired outer surface of the pipe.

The concrete 33 thus penetrates into the space 36 between the inner surface of the section a, b, c, d, of the apron and the outer surface I ll of the pipe.

As the pipe rotates, the staves are released at d at the instant when the apron 24 winds on the cylinder [6 while the coating 36 continues over the entire periphery of the pipe.

At the end of the operation, the tapered front face of the coating reaches 38 immediately above the concrete which is ready to be placed in position in the spout: at this instant the vibrators l2 are shifted slightly in order to enable the coating to be completely closed, while the operation of the distributor 8 is stopped, thereby stopping the fiow of concrete.

It then only remains for the counterweight 21 to be disengaged or lifted in order to loosen the apron 24, and after having moved the heads 3 away from one another, for the pipe I to be extracted with its coating. The pipe thus coated is placed in a store to allow the layer 36 of concrete to finish hardening.

Owing to the presence of the vibrator l2 in a section where the outer surface ID of the pipe and also that of the reinforcement 2 are substantially vertical, the air which existed between the concrete and the pipe or said reinforcement can escape freely and the coating obtained is extremely compact.

It is possible, according to the invention, to heat the outside of the apron by means of jets of low pressure steam 29 escaping from the perforations 28 so as to regularize or hasten the setting of the concrete 36, while making in1possible any dehydration likely to deteriorate the properties of the concrete.

The applicant has discovered that it was advantageous to arrange the vibrators i la, Nb and I2 so that they are turned in different directions: the vibrator Ha acting for example along the line of greatest slope of the chute l, the vibrator I lb acting parallel to the axis XX of the pipe and the vibrator l2 acting vertically.

Naturally, according to the length of the pipe, the coating can be eflected simultaneously over the entire length of the pipe or, on the contrary, onlyv be applied up to short circular sections, the pipe in this case being movable relatively to the chute l or conversely, so as to enable the entire length of said pipe to be coated in several stages.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 to '7, the pipe to be coated is formed, as in the first embodiment, by a concrete core 4! which may be reinforced or not and which is terminated at its ends by metal butts 42 and which is reinforced by a binding 43 tightly wound round the outer surface 44 of the core or primary pipe M.

The pipe 4i rests by its butt ends 42 on two rollers 45 provided with a flange 46. Said rollers are carried by shafts 41 journalled in bearings 48. A motor and a reducing gear of a known type not shown enable one of the rollers to be rotarily driven in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 4) and consequently the pipe to be rotated about the stationary axis XX in the direction of the arrow f Above the upper generatrix of the pipe 4! is arranged a metal hopper formed by two longi tudinal walls 49 and 50 including between them an angle of about 90 and by two vertical end walls 5|.

The hopper is extended at its lower part by a chest with vertical walls 52 and 53 (Fig. 4) opening above the pipe. The wall 53 of the chest is connected by its lower edge to a plate 54 which is pivoted at 55 to the wall 53 and which rests against the reinforcing binding wires 43 turned in the opposite direction to the arrow J.

The wall 53 of the chest is also connected to a plate 56 which forms a strickle and smoother and which is turned in the direction of the arrow f Said plate 56 is spaced from the outer surface 44 of the primary pipe 4| a distance equal to the desired thickness of the secondary coating 51' to be obtained.

The hopper carries at its ends journals 58 resting on a sling or arm 59 which is journalled at 60 in a bearing 6|. A counterweight 62 balances the whole weight of the hopper so as to limit the friction of same against the pipe.

Each side wall 5| of the hopper is furthermore provided, along an axis YY parallel to the axis XX with an opening 63 through which penetrates, with a clearance 64, a rod (or tube) 65 resiliently centred in its passage through each wall 55 of the hopper by blocks of rubber 6B which are tightened by means of a stufiing-box B1. Said rod 65 carries at its end, outside the hopper, a pneumatic vibrator 38. Furthermore, inside the hopper, on said rod 65, are fixed fins 69 arranged parallel to one another.

The fins B9 are fixed on the rod (or tube) 65 by welding, screwing or by any other means, for example as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 by means of conical Keys 10 and H (Figs. 5 and 6), which are placed at right angles to one another on either side of each fin 69.

Said fins, of generally rectangular shape, as shown or of another shape (circular, triangular, etc.) are adapted to move with a slight play between the walls 49 and 5a of the chest; they are provided at their lower part with extensions 12 which are located between the plate or strickle 56 (Fig. 4) and the outer surface 4% of the primary pipe M.

The device operates as follows:

The primary pipe to be coated 4| is first placed in position on the rollers 45, then the hopper and its vibrator device 65, 68, 69 are lowered on to the slings 59 and the plate 56 is lowered into contact with the reinforcing binding it.

The hopper is filled with very dry fine concrete I? having for example the following composition:

Per cent Sand and gravel 0 to 12 mm. in size approx 69 Cement approx 23 Water approx 8 Owing to the action of the high frequency H vibrator 53 which sets all the fins 59 in motion simultaneously through the intermediary of the shaft 65, the whole mass of concrete contained in the hopper is subjected to the vibration and, despite its slight initial fluidity, said concrete flows between the outer surface 44 of the pipe 4! and the plate in the shape of a very compact wide strip 5i completely surrounding the metal reinforcing binding 43 wound on the outside of the pipe 4|.

The efficiency of this vibration is increased by the direct connection of the shaft and the vibrator 63, by the resilient suspension of said shaft in the rubber packing t6 and by the shape of the fins 59, in particular by their extensions i2 which transmit the vibration to the entire volume of the concrete contained in the and in the space between the plate 56 and the pipe 6|. It is particularly advantageous to use a high frequency vibrator, for example 10,006 to 20,000 vibrations per minute.

The winding operation is efiected evenly, the secondary concrete 51, as soon as it comes out of the hopper, being of sufiicient consistency and strength not to become detached from the pipe 4! by the action of gravity.

When the coating being completed, this ribbon of concrete reaches 14 (Fig. '7) near the hopper, the plate 54 in front of it is lifted to 54:1 so that the coating can join up at l5 with the concrete which is still in the hopper. At this instant, the vibrator 68 and. the rotation of the pipe M are stopped. The hopper is lifted with the concrete it may still contain, said concrete having stopped flowing since the vibration of the fins 69 has been stopped. It is then only necessary to pass the smoother over the upper part of the coating which, having been subjected to the vibration, is as compact as the other parts of said coating. The coated pipe is then removed from its rollers and replaced by the next pipe to be coated.

iii)

The applicant has discovered that for the vibration to retain maximum efliciency, it is particularly advantageous to use vibrating rods or shafts of limited length which does not extend over the whole length of the pipe.

It is however possible to efiect the coating of the whole length of the pipe in a single operation. Accordin to the modification of construction of Fig. 8, at the upper part of the pipe are arranged four separate hoppers 76, ll, 18 and 19 which are staggered relatively to one another in the direction of rotation of the pipe so as to provide the necessary space at the end of each of them for the vibrators 8G, 6 l, 82 and 83.

In Fig. 9 another modification has been shown in which at the end of the strickle 56 is pivoted at $4 an auxiliary smoother 85 carrying a preferably high frequency vibrator, the direction of the vibrations of which is Substantially at right angles to the surface of the smoother.

Said smoother has the effect of causing to sweat from the outer surface 81 of the coating 51 eement laitance which is preferably smoothed as it would be by hand by means of a spatula. The external appearance of the coating is thereby considerably improved.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments illustrated and described which have only been chosen by way of example.

Thus, the pipe to be coated may be made of concrete reinforced or not, metal or any other material, said pipe may have on the outside thereof reinforcing binding of wire, cables, strands or of any other kind and the thickness of the pipes may vary. The invention is also applicable to the coating of large parts of any dimensions and also to the manufacture, about a mandrel forming a core, of tubular parts of vibrated concrete.

The rotary drive of said pipes or parts may be effected in any manner for example by means of rollers, by means of a lathe provided with two stocks, at least one of which is driven, or again by means of a mandrel over which the pipe to be coated is fitted.

The vibrators may be pneumatic, electric or of any other system, their number and orientation may Vary according to the dimensions of the pipe and the nature of the concrete used.

In the example of Figs. 1 and 2, the chain 22 effecting the rotary coupling of the cylinder to the head of the lathe, may be replaced by a belt, a cable or even be eliminated, the drive of the apron being efiected simply by friction against the outer surface of the coating.

The heating of the apron may be obtained by any heating means, such as a flame, electric or otherwise.

In the examples of Figs. 3 to 9, the shape and the size of the hopper or hoppers may vary according to the size of the part and the thickness of the desired coating; said hoppers may contain the necessary concrete for effecting a single coating, they may also have a suificient capacity for successively coating several pipes or, on the contrary, be of small size and be filled gradually, as the coating operation proceeds, by manual or mechanical feeding.

Furthermore, the system formed by the hopper or hoppers and the vibration devices may be arranged at the upper part of the pipe as shown or at the side; said system may be supported in its operative position either by fixed abutments, or by contact with the pipe itself, in this latter case the hoppers may be provided with abutments which bear against rollers adapted to roll on the outside of the pipe, for example on its metal butt ends.

Finally, the vibrating smoother 85 may be mounted otherwise than as indicated, for example it may be completely independent of the strickle.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. Apparatus for moulding and coating pipes or like articles made of concrete or like material comprising a cylindrical support adapted to rtate about its longitudinal axis of revolution and intended to receive said material on its outer surface, means for carrying said support, means for driving the same, a hopper for conveying said material to said outer surface and comprising four walls, means for supplying said hopper with said material, a strickle secured at the base of one of the two longitudinal walls of said hopper, said strickle being parallel to the axis of said support and spaced from the external surface thereof a distance corresponding to the desired thickness of the layer of material to be coated on said support by strickling and sealing means on the base of the rear wall of said hopper, said sealing means being adapted to form a retractable joint between said hopper and the surface to be coated.

2. Apparatus for moulding and coating pipes or like articles made of concrete or like material according to claim 1, in which said sealing means consists of a plate which rubs against the surface of the support to be coated and is adapted to be retracted by swinging.

3. Apparatus for moulding and coating pipes or like articles made of concrete or like material comprising a cylindrical support adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis of revolution and intended to receive said material on its outer surface, means for carrying said support, means for driving the same, a hopper for conveying said material to said outer surface and comprising four walls, means for supplying said hopper with said material, a strickle secured at the base of one of the two longitudinal walls of said hopper, said strickle being parallel to the axis of said support and spaced from the external surface thereof a distance corresponding to the desired thickness of the layer of material to be coated on said support by strickling, sealing means on the base of the rear wall of said hopper, said sealing means being adapted to form a retractable joint between said hopper and the surface to be coated and at least one vibrator device in the hopper.

4. Apparatus for moulding and coating pipes or like articles made of concrete or like material comprising a cylindrical support adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis of revolution and intended to receive said material on its outer surface, means for carrying said support, means for driving the same, a hopper for conveying said material to said outer surface and comprising four walls, means for supplying said hopper with said material, a strickle secured at the base of one of the two longitudinal walls of said hopper, said strickle being parallel to the axis of said support and spaced from the external surface thereof a distance corresponding to the desired thickness of the layer of material to be coated on said support by strickling, sealing means on the base of the rear wall of said hopper, said sealing means being adapted to form a retractable joint between said hopper and the surface to be coated, and a vibrator device comprising a vibrating shaft carrying a vibrator outside the hopper and vibrating members inside said hopper. 5. Apparatus for moulding and coating pipes or like articles made of concrete or like material according to claim 4, in which the vibrating members comprising parallel fins.

6. Apparatus for moulding and coating pipes or like articles made of concrete or like material according to claim 4, in which the vibrating members comprise parallel fins provided with extensions engaging between said plate forming the strickle and the surface to be coated.

7. Apparatus for moulding and coating pipes or like articles made of concrete or like material according to claim 4 in which a vibrating shaft passes with a clearance through the end walls of the hopper against which it rests through the medium of resilient packings made of rubber or like material.

8. Apparatus for moulding and coating pipes or like articles made of concrete or like material according to claim 1, in which the hopper is located above the support to be coated.

JEAN LOUIS ALBERT CON TENSON REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,644,175 Church Oct. 4, 1927 1,648,475 Darwin Nov. 8, 1927 1,837,529 Clifford Dec. 22, 1931 2,022,009 Rocca Nov. 26, 1935 2,069,589 Meijling et a1. Feb. 2, 1937 2,225,015 Lebelle Dec. 17, 1940 

